Holy spaghetti and flying dhokhla, is it already the end of December. I sit here drinking a potful of masala tea and looking back at the year with a heart full of gratitude. This year was nothing short of extraordinary, filled with reunions, adventures, delicious food, achievements, and a whole lot of firsts. Here’s the highlights of 2024 that made the year special.
Most Cherished Memory: A Reunion 11 Years in the Making
The absolute highlight of 2024 was meeting my brother after over 11 years. The last time I saw him, he was fresh out of entrance exams for the Indian Army. Fast forward to now, he’s a Major and an NSG Commando. His achievements in the past years have filled our entire family with immense pride.
Words can’t capture the joy of having our family together after a decade. My five-year-old son hugged him as if they were lifelong buddies. Even my brother was amazed at how comfortable Little D was. Well, the secret was – I had been telling my son stories about his uncle, including the hilarious one about how he used to steal and wear our sister’s jeans and escape on his bicycle, leaving her fuming. That reunion was pure magic and will forever be etched in my heart.

Best Travel Memory: Skiing at Mount Hotham
2024 also saw us embark on a snowy escapade to Mount Hotham, the Alps of Australia. We spent four adventurous days in a winter wonderland filled with snowball fights, laughter, and plenty of clumsy skiing – 100% of which, I’ll admit, was entirely my doing.

It was our first time trying cross-country skiing, and while my son glided like a natural, I focused on staying upright and keeping my teeth intact. We took skiing lessons, built snowmen, went tobogganing, and had epic snowball fights. Watching my little one embrace the snow for the first time was pure joy – though we did have quite the challenge convincing him that snow wasn’t meant for eating. Mount Hotham will hold a special place in our hearts.
Most Memorable Food: Assamese Delights
Food has a way of creating memories, and this year, Sunga Bhaat with Duck Curry took the crown. During our visit to India, my Maahi (aunt) prepared this traditional Assamese delicacy where sticky rice (bora saul) is cooked inside bamboo wrapped in banana leaves.

Sunga Bhaat, also known as Sunga Saul, is a traditional Assamese dish where sticky rice (bora saul) is cooked inside a bamboo tube, often lined with banana leaves. This method imparts a unique aroma and flavor to the rice, reflecting the rich culinary heritage of Assam.
The process starts with soaking bora saul for several hours. Then, fresh bamboo tubes are sealed at one end and lined with banana leaves to prevent rice from sticking. The prepared bamboo tube is filled with the soaked rice, leaving some space at the top to allow for expansion during cooking. Traditionally, the filled bamboo is placed over an open fire, allowing the rice to steam within the bamboo. The cooking process imbues the rice with a distinctive smoky aroma and the subtle essence of bamboo and banana leaf.

The fragrance of the rice paired with the spicy duck curry was heavenly. My tummy growled the moment it was served, and I didn’t hold back. I polished off two servings in record time. It was a meal that not only satisfied my taste buds but also reconnected me to my roots.
Best Thing I Learned: Stock Market
After months of procrastination, I finally dipped my toes into the world of stock investments in 2024. Starting with the Australian market and later exploring the U.S. market, trying to wrap my head around technical terms, analysis, and navigating highs and lows.
There was one nerve-wracking day when I watched a stock I had bought plummet non-stop, and it kept plummeting for weeks on. It felt like my heart was plunging right along with it. But hey, lessons were learned, and I’m glad I at least made little progress in a space that once felt intimidating.
Best Sunset: Close to Home
You know how they say the best things in life are right under your nose! Well, the best sunset I saw in 2024 wasn’t from rolling green hills of New Zealand, or skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur, or white sandy beaches in Australia. It was from the parking lot of my kid’s school, just five minutes from home.
The vibrant hues of pink, yellow, and orange painted across the sky were a reminder that life’s treasures are sometimes right where you least expect them.

This was on another occasion.

Best books I read: thriller, humour, or horror

I had set a reading goal of 30 books for 2024 but surpassed it by 12. It is quite a herculean task to pick the best and review them as I enjoyed each for different reasons. That said, here are my top picks:
Hail Mary by Andy Weir is definitely one of my favourite reads in 2024. This was followed by Circe by Madeline Miller. If you like cozy supernatural romance, I would recommend Wimbrel House series by Charlie N Holmberg. I read book 1 in 2023 and the second part in 2024 – Heir of Uncertain Magic.
I absolutely adored India Holton’s writing style. The quirky characters, over-the-top action scenes, and the supernatural twist where female pirates in The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels fly houses while falling for dashing secret agents were just brilliant. The witty banter between the main leads in The secret society of Tea and Treason and the strong female protagonists had me hooked. India’s wacky humor is exactly my kind of humor, and I realized that I’m definitely a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope!
Wrapping Up 2024
From reunions and snowy adventures to flavorful meals and personal growth, 2024 gave me numerous memories that I will cherish for a long time. With new learnings and revamped yearly goals, I step into 2025.

Nicely wrapped up !!!
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It’s always a pleasure to read your posts Raj. Happy New year to you and yours. Stock market is one thing that I’m still procrastinating, maybe I will get there sometime later. Loved all pictures and the memories shared. I’m glad you’ve finally met your brother after such a long time. I only have a cousin brother, but my daughter keeps asking him so many questions on voice messages in WhatsApp that he responds to her now. However, I keep telling her stories of all mine as well to keep them in her memories. It always works. She loves my sister and always feels closest to her and wants to also grow up and be like her. Lovely food, the pic definitely made me drool.
Wish you a very happy new year too. I loved watching my little one bond with his cousins and Uncles even though he met them for the first time. It is so special. The video calls does help in making this connection stronger.